Besides the way Quina was disregarded (way more depth than just a joke character), I really enjoyed your analysis.

I have answers for Quina and Freya for you that might fit.

Freya is about making the choice even though it hurts and may never lead anywhere fulfilling in any way you might imagine it. And Quina is an example of someone who is perfectly happy with the choice they've made for themselves even though it seems simplistic.

In the PS1 booklet, each character has their own "Persona" or inner struggle listed in the form of a quote.

Zidane comes from Lindblum, which is advanced and full of machines.

Dali was a farming village of Alexandria, the farmers had no idea what a machine was really until recently. The machines comes from Kuja who was paid by Brahne.

For Zidane is strange using a Chocobo as engine, for a farmer of Alexandria not.

Also ... the Chocobo's sound was the reason for him comes near.

Linking Vivi's inner struggles via another game character's soundtrack is a nice touch (10:00)

Cool video, love the analysis. But there is a in universe mechanical reason why the black mage factory is powered by chocobo. The technology on the continent of mist functions almost entirely on mist. The factory consumed all the mist to make black mages, especially being on-top the cliff where the most was drawn up. So if they use mist they make fewer weapons

Cool, accidentally found my new favorite channel!

I am quite amazed to see such a well done and interesting ff9 video in 2026!! This did not only expanded my view on the game, but learning so much about Sakeguchi through his work definetely made me see artistry and storytelling through a different scope, it was truly a great analysis!!!

The crystal in the logo was also really important to the time of the game's release; FFIX was billed as a 'return to form' in its marketing a lot, and there was a lot of focus on "the return of the crystal" as a piece of marketing, since FF7 and 8 had put less of an emphasis on them.

You could fit Quina and Freya into the home and identity section especially since Quina wants to build his identity to become a chef and Freya loses her home and her search for her lover ends in a minor tragedy

Excellent analysis and post-analysis! Excellent editing, great pacing. I'm totally subscribing~

Great analysis. The chocobo thing at the beginning made me feel like you were overthinking it a bit, so I'm glad I kept watching. This may not be my favourite Final Fantasy, but I can see why it's so beloved. The thematic resonance is amazing.

Final Fantasy IX was not intended to be a mainline game at first actually. It was going to be a side game (the PS1 was on the way out by 2000 and all eyes were already turning toward the PS2, but I think they need a stop gap. The original intent was to move forward like 7 and 8 with a more sci-fi feel, but yeah, when it got main-game status it was decided that it would lean heavily into allusions to the series's past.

I think one of the taglines for the English jewel case was "The Return of the Crystal."

If anyone is familiar with the first six games in the series knows that crystals feature as main items in 1, 3, 4, and 5. That's two thirds of them having crystals and even 6 has a soft motif in the magicite  and the connection to the espers.

Sakaguchi is a lot like Miyazaki (either the Dark Souls one or the Spirited Away one). They're all authors who are examining a few core ideas and themes and refining their views on them over time. They have things they want to say and they say them.

With Kuja as a metaphore in mind, and it being his last game, Necron makes more sense.

Great vid

I just thought it was becouse they were using the Mist for the Black Mages and thus the machine was used mechanically. But i compliment your thought process, subscribed

I'd love to see your take on FFX. I constantly flop back and forth between IX and X being my favorite on any given day, and this video illuminated a lot of the reasons why IX rates so highly for me, so I think hearing your perspective on X as well would be really cool.

Though, obviously, happy to watch whatever you make in the future.

Great vid, earned a sub!

Gotta love the E33 soundtrack.

Excellent analysis ^^
I would like your take and analysis for FF12.